Rail-joint bar



`une 24, 1930. D. P. woLHAUPTER ET AL l 1,768,391

RAIL JOINT BAR Filed Jan. ,17, 195o 2 shears-sheet 2.

gwoe'ntow W/TNESsEs.' v y "David Emr r @aww H 1 Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DAVID P. WOLHAUPTER `AND EMORY- L. GROFF, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF- COLUMBIA BAIL-JOINT BAR Application led January 17, 1930. Serial No. 421,564.

This invention relates to rail joint bars,

v and has in view to provide a rail joint bar embodying a novel combination of desirable features designed to provide an effective support for the rail ends and at the same time to minimize tendency of the bar to kick out under load, whereby wear on the bar and onthe rail ends is minimized and longevity of the bar and the rails is assured.

In its broader aspects the invention contemplates the provision of a rail joint bar which is both headfree and footfree; that is, a bar which is inclusive of a head formed for loading engagement with the head fillet of the rail and for clearance from the underside of the rail head, and a foot or base which is formed for loading engagement with the base fillet of the rail and for clearance from the upper face of the rail flange, whereby consequent tendency of the bar to move inward and to maintain firm contact with the rail under all load conditions. Thus, inasmuch as the bar takes loading engagement with the head and base fillets of the rails, at least throughout its effective medial or rail end supporting (portions, and therefore cannot move inwar abrasion is substantially eliminated and only little wear can occur. However, it is to be expected that some looseness of the bar with -respect to the rails will in time develop despite the elimination or the substantial elimination of abrasion between the contacting surfaces of the bar and the rails, due to the pounding of car wheels passing over the joint.

Therefore, the invention also has in view the additional important purpose of so form- 40y ing a joint bar of the character mentioned that it is capable of being adjusted to take up any looseness which may develop in the joint, to which end the bar is formed medially for effective loading engagement with 4.5 the rails and, outwardly with respect to its medial loading portion, is laterally thinned so as normally to be disposed in spaced relation to the rails to enable inward adjustment or pressure of the bar when looseness occurs at the medial portion thereof. Morethe resultants of the load forces transmittedthrough the bar are directed inward with over, by reason of this construction and by tightening of the end joint bolts, the ends of the -bar may be flexed inwardly with the result that the constant tendency of the bar to return to its normally straight condition will cause the medial portion of the bar to be urged constantly inward into firm loading engagement with the rails.

In addition, it is. an important purpose of the invention to provide a joint bar of the l60 type mentioned which is capable of being economically rolled, and with these and other purposes in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and in the novelcombination and arrangement of features as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevationlof a rail joint including bars constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken 75 on the line 2--2 of Figure 1. c

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section o n the line 4 -4 of Figure 2. g

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of bar; and

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a -detail cross sectional view 85 of a modified form of joint bar embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail R, R designate the meeting end portions of a pair of rails, and A a joint bar embodying 9o .the novel features of the present invention and adapted for splicing the rails R, R together.

As usual, each rail is inclusive of a head 10, a web 11, a base or flange 12 and head 95 and base fillets 13 and 14, respectively, located at the points where lthe web 11 merges into the head 10, and the base 12, respectively. i

The joint bar A includes a head 15, a web faces 16 and a foot or base portion 17, but, as distinguished ifrom general prior practice in the art of joint bar construction, and in accordance -with the present invention7 the upper, inner corner of the head 15 of the bar is rounded, as indicated at 18, to provide a bearing element for loading engagement with the head fillet 13 of the rail, and, in adidtion, the heel 19 of the bar is rounded, as indicated at 20, to provide a bearing element for loading engagement with the base fillet 14 of the rail. Moreover, the top and bottom faces 18a and 20a of the bar are extended outward toward the ends at such angles relative to the rounded portions 18and 20 of the head and heel of the bar, respectively, that the head 15 of the bar has clearance from the under face of the rail head 10 and the base or foot of the bar has clearance from the upper face of the rail flange.

As a consequence of the foregoing construction the tendency of the bar A, when bolted in tightly and subjected to load, is to move inward both at its head and at its base because of the loading engagement of the bar being solely with the head and base fillets of the rail, and the resultants of the lines of force being directed inward. Since, however, the construction is such as to prevent inward movement of the bar, it follows that relative sliding movement between the contacting surfaces of the bar will be negligible, and as a result abrasion of such suris substantially eliminated and longevity of the joint is assured.

The construction described may be carried throughout the length of the bar or onl throughout a portion of the length thereof as will presently appear.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, it may be pointed out that it has been established that a rail joint bar is subjected to maximum load and to maximum wear medially thereof throughout a relatively short portion of its length extending inwardly from each rail end, and that the end portions of the bar sustain less load and are subjected to little or no wear. Accordingly, it is preferred to construct only the medial portion of the present bar as heretofore described for continuous engagement with the head and base fillets of the rails, and to provide for clearance between the head and base fillets of the rails and the rounded wearing elements 18 and 20 of the head and heel of the bar, respectively, from said medial portion to the ends of the bar. This is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and l of the drawings wherein it will be observed that the medial portions of the head and heel of the bar have continuous contact with the head and base fillets of the rails, respectively, and that from said medial portions the head and heel portions of the bar extend in spaced relation to their related rail surfaces, this being preferably accomplished by thinning the end portions of the bar and by reducing the metal solely at the inner faces of these bar elements so that the out-to-out of the joint is substantially uniform and maintained at the required distance.

Thus, by reason of the described construction, if looseness of the bar develops from loosening of the bolts or otherwise, the clearance between the end portions of the bar and the rail surfaces permits the bar to be tightened inward to compensate for any wear or looseness that may have occurred along the medial contact portions of the head and heel. Moreover, by reason of said clearances the end joint bolts may be tightened to such an extent as to fiex or spring the ends of the bar inwardly whereby the resulting tendency of the bar to assume its normal straight condition will result in an automatic take-up of any looseness which may develop in the joint.

This type of bar may be and preferably is of uniform height throughout its length and its outer face preferably is flat' and straight, as also is the inner face of its medial portion, the only variance from a uniform cross section being endwise of its medial portion where it is laterally thinned to provide the clearances heretofore mentioned. Accordingly, said bar is readily capable of being produced by an economical rolling process.

Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing illustrate the joint bar 21 preferably formed with a spring set, and having the head 22 and the y heel 23 both formed for loading engagement with the head and base fillets of the rails throughout the length of the joint. In this embodiment however, the web of the bar may be initially bowed outwardly, (as indicated by the dotted lines), to provide a substantially cambered outer bolting face 24 for the purpose of giving the bar sufficient resiliency or spring under pressure from the joint bolts to maintain the bar in tight engagement with the head and base fillets of the rail. Thus any tendency to looseness or such wear as may occur may be adequately compensated for by subsequent tightening of the joint bolts.

Figure 7 of the drawings illustrates a joint bar 25, the same having the upper head fillet engaging surface 26 and the lower base fillet engaging portion 27, both adapted to contact throughout their length with the head and base fillets of the rail. The body 25 of the bar is formed to provide sufficient resiliency or spring to cause the surfaces 26 and 27 to firmly engage the head and base fillets of the rail under the pressure of the joint bolts. The body 25 'of the bar is preferably made so that its outer surface hasl an initial oainber to adequately provide fillets of for taking up any looseness that may occurin the bar as a resulty of continued use. Thus, this form of the invention provides a bar having head 'and foot portions formed for loading engagement solely with the head and base fillets of the rail while the body thereof is responsive to bolt pressure for maintaining the bar in engagement with said fillets.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may'be'resorted to, Without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A rail joint including vthe rail, joint bolts, and a splice bar having head-clearance from the underside of the rail head and flange-clearance from thev upper side of the rail flange and also having a loading engagement at rail.

2. A rail joint bar having headl and foot portions formed forloading engagement solely respectively with the head and base llets of the rail.

3. A rail joint including the rail, the

joint bolts and a bar having head and foot portions formed for loading engagement solely respectivelyl withthe head and base the rail, and means responsive to the bolt pressure for maintaining the bar in engagement with said fillets.

4. A rail joint including the rail, joint bolts, and a splice bar having head and foot ortions formed for loading engagement solely respectively with the head and base fillets of the lrail, and m'eans responsive to the bolts for maintaining the .bar under spring pressure in engagement with said fillets. l

5. A rail joint including the rail, the joint bolts, and a joint bar having loading engagement solely with the head and base fillets of the rail, and provided 'with a yieldlng portion responsive to the bolt pressure for maintaining the bar in operative engagement with the rail fillets.

6. A rail joint bar inclusive' of a head formed for head fillet of the rail and for clearance from the underside ofthe rail head, and a base formed for loading en agement with the base fillet ofthe rail anfor clearance from thg'upper facev of the rail ange.

rail joint bar inclusive of ahead c Vformed medially for loading engagement with'the head fillet of the rail and for clearance from the underside of the rail head, and a base formed medially for loading engagement with the base fillet of the rail and the head and base fillets of the oading engagement with the 1 for clearance from the upper face of the rail flange, the head and base of said bar outwardly of said medial portions thereof, respectively, clearance from the rail when said medial portions are engaged respectively, with the head and base fillets of the rail.

8. A rail joint bar inclusive of a medial portion and a laterally thinned portion extending from said medial portion to each end of the bar, said medial portion being inclusive of a'head formed for loading engagement with the head llet of the rail and for clearance from the underside of the rail head, and a base formed for loading engagement with the base fillet of the rail and for clearance from the upper face of the rail flange.

9. A rail joint bar of uniform hei ht throughout its length inclusive of a me ial portion and a laterally thinned portion eX- tending from said medial portion to each end of the bar, said medialportion being inclusive of a headk formed for loadin engagement with the head fillet of the rai and for clearance from the underside of the rail head, and a base formed for loading engagement with the base fillet of the rail and for clearance from the upper face of the rail flange.

10. A rail joint bar inclusive of a head and a base each having a medial portion of uniform width and a portion of progressively decreasing width extending from said inedial portion to each end of the bar, the medial portion of the head of the bar being formed for loading engagement with. the head fillet of the rail and for clearance from the underside of the rail head, and the medial portion of the base of the bar' being formed for loading 'engagement with the base fillet of therail and for clearance from the upper face of the rail flange. 1

In testimony whereof we hereunto aix our signatures. v

. DAVID P. W OLHAUPTER.

EMORY L. GROFF. 

